Prefered OW ruleset?

[Constable Bertrand]

Hi guys,

I've noticed there are a few skirmish OW rulesets out there. Which one/ones do you currently prefer and why? I'm considering different skirmish rulesets.

Legends of the Old West?
Fist full of Lead?
Shoot and Skeddadle?
Something else...

A quick search turned up nothing, but If this has been discussed before please point me to it too

Cheers
Matt

[lino-]

Dead man's hand is very good

[Elbows]

Why don't you start us off with what kind of rules you're into...larger skirmish "battles", smaller number RPG's.  What do you look for in a game?

Fistful of Lead is highly regarded around here.

The Rules with No Name (commonly simply called TWRNN) is also supremely popular.

Legends of the Old West is...okay, but it's more popular amongst players who are used to GW products (and it is definitely a GW product)

Desperado is good if you want loads of models on the table.

Gutshot is good if you want very few models, and really intricate, almost role-playing level of detail.

Dead Man's Hand and Shoot N' Skedaddle seem to attract people who want to set up a game really quickly with minimum amount of fuss (ie. no planning, character sheets etc.)  Both are card-driven games.

So what do you like in a game?

[Za Zjurman]

I love the Fistfull of Lead rules. Easy to play and easy to adapt/create your own rules with it. I made some extra rules for animals (stampede!!  ), civilians and weather. A game (5-7 miniatures a side) usually takes about an hour with three players around 2 hours.

Cheers,
Za

[Gibby]

Six Gun Sound by Two Hour Wargames. It has several dynamic campaigns to play depending on what kind of character your leader is (lawman, gunslinger, cowboy, ranger, outlaw etc). Not only that but it can be played solo.

The reaction system really creates a lot of cinematic moments. Getting shot at may cause a guy to dive over a fence or fire back instantly etc. In one game my cousin's leader ran into the street from an ally, managed to get a shot off at one of three enemies (turned out to be a fatal headshot) before the other two reacted and returned fire, and after a load of ineffective gunfire he dived into another ally across the street!

[Ray Earle]

Depends what you're looking for?

DMH is my rules of choice at the moment, it excels in a quick set-up with little book keeping. Set up the table, grab a handful of figures and off you go. The card deck is a nice touch and adds to the game play. Random initiative is good too. The expansion due in April will add an experience system and aid in running campaigns. It will round the rules out nicely.

LoTOW, played loads of this, even ran campaign weekends at warhammer world for a few years running. Another nice set of rules, simple to get into, easy to set up. Nice campaign system, which is its big plus point. Mechanics are fairly simple to grasp, and with the wrong set of players open to, ahem, bending of the rules. But for a bunch of like minded blokes, spot on.

TRWNN another nice set of rules, take a bit of work to set up, but once you've done that are a good fun set of rules. A bit more in depth than the other two sets. Experience system, lots of chits to draw and dice to roll.

They'd be my first three choices. Haven't played/owned the other rules mentioned so don't want to pass comment. 

[NickNascati]

I have the three sets you mentioned, plus Six Gun Sound and even a set of rules from the Cowboys, Way of the Gun board game.  Each offers something slightly different.  SGS is the one best suited to solo play.

[axabrax]

Used to play Legends of the West and Rules With NoName but now pretty much play DMH exclusively. For town-based shoot-em-up gunfights it's probably the best system I've ever played. It needs an adaptation for the Indian wars, however, but I tend to doubt that will happen as it seems to seems to be based on Hollywood style gunfights. (there will be an Indian renegade posse however ) I've played SGS a few times but have to say I've never really cared for the reaction system used by THW. I can see how it would be decent for solo play, however. Although frankly DMH would probably work fairly well for solo play as well because of the card based initiative.

[Lowtardog]

DMH for me no fuss and fun to play

[jp762]

For town-based shoot-em-up gunfights it's probably the best system I've ever played.

I second that, its a lovely ruleset and has replaced LotOW for me as a go to set.

[jp762]

My quote didnt quite work there......

I love these rules. They are the best I have ever seen.

[Deedles]

The Rules With No Name , Dusty Trails , of variants of ..

[Constable Bertrand]

Thanks for the tips!

I guess I'm looking for smaller skirmish games, with a campaign/RPG element of building stories around the characters and their actions. For games with 2 players and no GM. Quick games and little setup is ideal.

I'm currently playing with Steve's Scavenge Skirmish Survive, and haven't had much experience with other rules. (Only GW fantasy)

So dead man hand seems pretty popular - could be the ticket!!

Cheers
Matt

[Elbows]

Matt,

Shoot me a PM.  I'll send you the rules for Shoot N' Skedaddle.

-Minor campaign elements (simple map based with character advancement)
-Recommended for 5-8 characters per player
-When played as Skirmish is relatively quick set-up (everything randomized)
-No real "story" development elements unless the players produce their own during a campaign.
-No GM required (though takes one well)
-Not sure on the "quick games" part.  I tend to run large, rather in depth games which can last 3 hours or so.  I'd guess a small skirmish might be 1.5 hours.  Definitely not a super quick 20-minute kind of game.

If that works for you, let me know.  The rules are free so you can peruse them at your leisure.

Oscar

[parcival42]

I'd have to recommend Shoot and Skedaddle over Dead Man's Hand.  I like both quite a bit, but Shoot seems to play quicker and is a blast because all of the different characters available.